One of my predictions for 2008 was that another Government would be “toppled by the people, who will organise their resistance primarily using their mobile phones”. I also hazarded a guess that it might be Zimbabwe, which has been misruled by Robert Mugabe and his henchmen for far too long.
While it’s too early to say if Mugabe will indeed be overthrown, Carlo dug out this piece which confirms that sms is certainly playing a central part in mobilising the opposition in the forthcoming elections on 29th March. This is also in the context when other media are controlled by the Government and opposition meetings are often broken up by force.
A central theme is also humour, with messages “creating light-hearted moments at a time when there’s very little for Zimbabweans to laugh about”.
Let’s hope my prediction comes true and Zimbabweans have a new Government shortly.
Obviously, that won’t mean their problems are over – far from it – even if Mugabe accepts losing power, he has proved totally and hideously incompetent, driving inflation to 15,000% a month and leading to life expectancy the lowest in the world at 37 for men and 34 for women. There won’t be a quick fix for problems of this scale.
But at least with him out of the way, the country stands a chance of recovery.
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